Cup funnel-shaped, 4-cleft. Four petals fixed into the cup. One seed, something like a berry.
See Gnidia pinifolia, Pl. LII. Vol. I.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Gnidia foliis oppositis, glabris, ovatis, quadrifariam imbricatis; floribus terminalibus, sessilibus, luteis.
Gnidia with opposite smooth egg-shaped leaves, forming four angles and tiled; flowers terminate the branches, sitting close to the stem, and yellow.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. A Blossom complete.
2. The same cut open, with the Chives attached; the Pointal taken out.
3. The Seed-bud and Pointal, (magnified.)
This Gnidia is from the Cape of Good Hope, from whence it was first sent to England about the year 1783, by Mr. F. Masson to the Royal gardens Kew. It is a tender, and delicate greenhouse plant, very subject to be destroyed by the autumnal rains, or over watering during the winter. It is with great difficulty raised from cuttings, and its seeds seldom or ever, we believe, are perfected with us; from which circumstance, it is to be found in very few collections. Our drawing was made from a plant, in the possession of G. Hibbert, Esq. Clapham, about the middle of July 1799.[Pg 361]
PLATE 89
